What to Eat: Recipes and Resources

The resources are too numerous to mention them all. Remember that on your journey into veganism your are not depriving yourself — instead you’re opening up a giant new world!

Vegan recipe blogs are a great way to learn new tricks and to embolden yourself to get creative in the kitchen! Below, we’ve included links to just a few where you’ll consistently find fabulous, free, delicious vegan meal ideas for any occasion.

As you learn more about new ways to nourish your body and improve your physical health, it’s also important to nourish your emotional well-being. One of the best things about going vegan now, as opposed to even 20 years ago, is how much easier the transition can be when you have access to internet tools such as google, facebook, and blogs. If your decision to adopt a vegan diet feels lonely or intimidating, work on finding–or creating–a community of likeminded individuals who share your values. Feeling part of a larger effort mobilized around compassion for animals and a shared sense of commitment can be empowering and hugely motivating. Search online for Vegetarian or Vegan Meetup groups in your area. There are also hundreds of vegetarian, vegan and farm animal advocacy groups online and on facebook: in addition to Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, look up Mercy for Animals, Compassion Over Killing, Animal Equality, Evolve! Campaigns, Free From Harm, One Green Planet, Food Empowerment Project, Vegan Outreach, and Our Hen House, to name just a few. Farm animal sanctuaries and vegan outreach groups are always in need of volunteers, for anything from leafletting to mucking out stalls; volunteering is a great opportunity to connect with likeminded advocates. You can also subscribe to email updates from your favorite vegan blogs (here’s a list to get you started!).

Vegan kitchen essentials/tips:

Easy, Delicious Egg Substitutes for Every Egg Recipe:

Baking:

• Vinegar and Baking Soda: For a rising or lightening effect in cakes, cupcakes and breads, combine 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of vinegar.
• Ground Flaxseed: Rich in essential omega-3 fatty acids, 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed whisked with 3 tablespoons of water in a blender or food processor will replace one egg. Flaxseed works best in nutty, grainy items like pancakes, waffles, bran muffins and oatmeal cookies.
• Bananas: For its binding abilities, half of a potassium and magnesium rich mashed or pureed banana will generally replace one or two eggs in breads, muffins, cakes and pancakes.
• Applesauce: Full of fiber and vitamin C, unsweetened applesauce offers the binding and moisture needed in baked goods. 1/4 cup equals one egg. Applesauce works best when you want the results to be moist, as in brownies.
• Silken Tofu: Rich in protein and fiber, but without the cholesterol and little, if any, saturated fat, this soy-based ingredient works best in dense, moist cakes and brownies. One egg can be replaced with 1/4 cup of tofu whipped in a blender or food processor.
• ENER-G Egg Replacer: Available in a handy box in most food stores, this nonperishable powdered product works well in baking, but is best in cookies.